Association between platelet indices and the severity of the disease and mortality in patients with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the association between platelet indices and disease severity, and outcomes of the patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a secondary hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 722 hospitalized patients who had positive rRT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 and/or typical findings of COVID-19 at chest computed tomography (CT) were enrolled in this study. Initial platelet count (PLT) and indices, including mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), plateletcrit (PCT), MPV/PCT, MPV/PLT, PDW/PLT, PDW/PCT on admission and the third day of hospitalization, and their relationship with disease severity and outcomes were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 57.2±15.6 years (range: 16-94) and male/female ratio was 1.22. 81.9% of the patients had moderate and 11.8% had severe disease. 1.8% of the patients had thrombocytopenia at admission. The patients transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) had significantly lower baseline lymphocyte counts, PLT, PCT, and 3rd day lymphocyte counts when compared with the patients in wards. ICU patients also had higher baseline CRP, LDH, ferritin, MPV/PCT, MPV/PLT, PDW/PLT, PDW/PCT ratios, and 3rd day PDW, CRP, LDH, and ferritin levels than the patients in wards. Mortality was associated with lower baseline lymphocyte counts, PLT, PCT, 3rd day lymphocyte counts and PCT. Higher baseline CRP, LDH, ferritin, MPV/PCT, PDW/PLT, PDW/PCT and 3rd day CRP, LDH, ferritin, procalcitonin, PDW, MPV/PCT, PDW/PLT, and PDW/PCT ratios were also associated with poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet count and ratios were significantly associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Correction to: Prediction of unfavorable outcomes in cryptococcal meningitis: results of the multicenter infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI) cryptococcal meningitis study.

In the original version of this article, Mustafa Sunbul was not included in the list of authors for this article. The name has been added accordingly.

Prediction of unfavorable outcomes in cryptococcal meningitis: results of the multicenter Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI) cryptococcal meningitis study.

Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is mostly seen in immunocompromised patients, particularly human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients, but CM may also occur in apparently immunocompetent individuals. Outcome analyses have been performed in such patients but, due to the high prevalence of HIV infection worldwide, CM patients today may be admitted to hospitals with unknown HIV status, particularly in underdeveloped countries. The objective of this multicenter study was to analyze all types of CM cases in an aggregate cohort to disclose unfavorable outcomes. We retrospectively reviewed the hospitalized CM patients from 2000 to 2015 in 26 medical centers from 11 countries. Demographics, clinical, microbiological, radiological, therapeutic data, and outcomes were included. Death, neurological sequelae, or relapse were unfavorable outcomes. Seventy (43.8%) out of 160 study cases were identified as unfavorable and 104 (65%) were HIV infected. On multivariate analysis, the higher Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores (p = 0.021), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leukocyte counts > 20 (p = 0.038), and higher CSF glucose levels (p = 0.048) were associated with favorable outcomes. On the other hand, malignancy (p = 0.026) was associated with poor outcomes. Although all CM patients require prompt and rational fungal management, those with significant risks for poor outcomes need to be closely monitored.